Battle Of Hudson covers the Rangers and Devils, who's intense rivalry heated up in the 90's. With fresh faces added, they battle for supremacy in NYC and NJ..
In what’s been a scorching hot summer, business has slowed down. That’s what usually happens in late July.
The off-season begins with a flurry of fireworks but then cools off dramatically. If you’re hoping for the weather to change, that’s another story. It’ll remain muggy. At least, the heat index isn’t approaching 100 like it did earlier. It’s been a scorching month.
While we find ways to stay cool, the hockey off-season is very quiet. When teams combined to spend over $2 billion on Canada Day, it was going to die down quickly. Now, we’re as close to a holiday freeze. Ices, anyone?
For the Devils, that meant overturning a roster that was the biggest disappointment of 2023-24. They went from 52 wins, 112 points, and the second round to 38 victories, 81 points, and no playoffs. The casualties included two coaches, two goalies, and three defensemen.
Tom Fitzgerald was very busy. He subtracted John Marino, Kevin Bahl, and Brendan Smith. Marino was a year removed from being a key part of the successful season they had in 2022-23. He wasn’t as consistent, which led to him being dealt to the Utah HC for 2024 second round pick Mikhail Yegorov and a 2025 second. Yegorov is the goalie of the future.
Fitzgerald then replaced Marino by signing Brett Pesce. A shutdown defenseman with the Hurricanes, the 29-year-old from Tarrytown, NY, will be counted on. He’ll likely be paired with Jonas Sieganthaler. Though it might be interesting to see what Keefe decides to do with a blue line that features youngsters Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec. Adding physical veteran Brenden Dillon will make the Devils harder to play against.
Jacob Markstrom is the new number one goalie. He’ll look to rebound from a challenging year in Calgary. A former Vezina finalist, Markstrom should have better support in Jersey. Jake Allen is a solid number two.
Gone are 2022-23 tandem Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid. Schmid was packaged with Alexander Holtz to Vegas for Paul Cotter. Another gritty player who should improve the Devils’ bottom six.
With Fitzgerald also adding solid depth pieces in net-front presence, Stefan Noesen and Tomas Tatar, they should be more formidable. Kurtis MacDermid was also kept for three years. He’ll renew acquaintances with Rangers’ enforcer Matt Rempe, who took lessons from former Oiler Georges Laraque. That should make the Hudson rivalry more exciting.
The Devils will have both Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton healthy for the start of training camp in September. Injuries to both hurt them last season. Especially Hamilton, who was sorely missed on the back end. A full season for the ace defenseman would go a long way to pushing the Devils back into the postseason.
With the Rangers unable to make many changes, except for dumping Barclay Goodrow on waivers to the Sharks, you could make the argument that the Devils have closed the gap.
Unless you think adding Reilly Smith and Sam Carrick will make a difference for a team that won the Presidents’ Trophy and lost in six games to the Panthers, there isn’t much cause for excitement in the big city. Leaking information that they wanted to trade captain Jacob Trouba didn’t go over well. Both Trouba and teammates were upset with how that was handled. They reportedly didn’t like how Goodrow was treated, either. It’ll be interesting to see the dynamic in the locker room ahead.
Having re-signed Kaapo Kakko, Zac Jones, and Braden Schneider, Chris Drury must still reach an agreement with Ryan Lindgren. A year away from unrestricted free agency, the 26-year-old defenseman wants to remain a New York Ranger. The issue is term. With arbitration set for Aug. 2, both sides have over a week to get something done.
The Rangers qualified Lindgren for $3.6 million. The salary shouldn’t be an issue. It’ll come down to how many years. Four seems reasonable. We’ll see what happens.
The good news is that they still have a strong core. Featuring Russian dynamo Artemi Panarin, American defense stalwart Adam Fox, and pipe master Igor Shesterkin, they remain formidable. With Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafreniere, and K’Andre Miller, the Blueshirts should again challenge for first place in the division. They should have close company from their Hudson rivals.
The Devils boast a strong core that also includes captain Nico Hischier, along with the Hughes Brothers, Bratt, Nemec, and unsigned restricted free agent Dawson Mercer. Quality additions, Markstrom, Pesce, Dillon, Noesen, and Cotter should make a difference. The improved depth has helped close the gap on the Rangers.
The Hudson rivalry will be even more exciting to watch. There are four big matchups set for 2024-25. Circle these dates:
Dec. 2 NJD vs. NYR 7 EST
Dec. 23 NYR vs. NJD 1 EST
Jan. 9 NJD vs. NYR 7 EST
Apr. 5 NYR vs. NJD 1 EST
BODY CHECKS
Martin Necas is staying put with the Hurricanes. After many trade rumors, including one that had him turning down the Sabres, he re-signed with the Canes for two years. The cap hit is $6.5 million. Fair value for a player of his capability. We’ll see if Necas gets more of an opportunity to play in the middle behind Sebastian Aho.
The Wild invested long-term on defenseman Brock Faber by extending him to an eight-year deal worth $68 million. The $8.5 million cap hit kicks in for 2025-26. His entry-level contract expires next year. Big money for the 21-year-old who finished a close runner-up behind Connor Bedard for the Calder Trophy. Faber came over from Los Angeles in the Kevin Fiala trade. One that has worked out well so far for both sides.
The Flyers kept leading scorer Travis Konecny by inking him to an eight-year, $70 million extension. That’s a cap hit of $8.5 million. Konecny has a year left on a contract that pays him a $5.5 million cap hit. He’ll be staying in Philly.
With the arrival of Matvei Michkov, things could be looking up for the Flyers. If he fulfills expectations, Michkov could be the Calder frontrunner. There’s considerable young talent on the roster. That includes Owen Tippett, Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost, Tyson Foerster, Bobby Brink, Cam York, and Jamie Drysdale. Adding Michkov to the nucleus should only help.
Much will depend on unproven goalie tandem Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov. The Flyers missed out on the playoffs by four points last season. We’ll see if they can return to the postseason for the first time since 2019-20.
On Saturday, the Rangers re-signed Braden Schneider to a bridge deal. The cap hit is $2.2 million per year.
A former first round pick in 2020, the 22-year-old defenseman completed his third season with the Rangers. He played in every game, including the playoffs.
Schneider had five goals with 14 assists for 19 points during the regular season. He added 167 hits and 133 blocks. In 16 games during the postseason, he tallied two assists while registering 32 hits and 34 blocks.
He saw his role increase due to captain Jacob Trouba struggling with a broken ankle. Schneider was paired with K’Andre Miller for a good portion of the Rangers’ playoff run. His average ice time increased to 17:32, which was up from 15:54.
There’s a strong possibility that Schneider could supplant Trouba on the second pair next season. That’ll depend on what transpires between now and training camp. With nothing new to report on Trouba, who Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury hoped to trade, catching the veteran by surprise, the likelihood is that he’ll stay put.
By signing Schneider to a fair deal, Drury will turn his attention to Ryan Lindgren. The unsigned restricted free agent filed for salary arbitration last week. A date hasn’t been set.
Lindgren completed a deal that paid him an average of $3 million. The number on his next contract should be over $4 million. How high it goes will depend on negotiations. It’ll be interesting to see what the term is. The Rangers likely don’t want to commit more than four years to a blood and guts player who could be susceptible to breaking down.
With Chad Ruhwedel also re-signed to a two-way deal, it looks like the Rangers are set on the blue line. Unless something unforeseen happens with Lindgren, they’ll likely head into September with the same defensemen except recently departed Erik Gustafsson (signed by Detroit).
That means Zac Jones should become a regular, with Ruhwedel and Matthew Robertson battling it out with Ben Harpur for the seventh defenseman role. Jones took a step forward when he filled in for injured defensemen last season. A fast skater who can transition quickly, his defensive play improved. It’ll be refreshing to see him play on the third pair. He deserves the opportunity.
With the off-season now as stagnant as the hot weather, there probably won’t be much else happening. Stay cool.
Earlier today, 14 players filed for salary arbitration. Ryan Lindgren was among them.
It isn’t surprising. He is a year away from becoming an unrestricted free agent. At 26, he just completed his fifth season.
Since being acquired by the Rangers from the Bruins in the Rick Nash deal, he’s become a staple on the blue line. Lindgren and former USA teammate Adam Fox have been inseparable. They are the Rangers’ top pair. While Fox is the standout who carries the offense, Lindgren provides 6 and physicality.
Cut out of the Dan Girardi mold, double five is a lot like the former number 5. Nicknamed by teammates the Warrior, Lindgren will do whatever it takes to help the team win. He usually is bruised and battered during games due to that style. A well-respected player in the locker room, he wants to remain a Ranger.
The question for the organization is how much they want to commit to a hard-nosed player who showed some signs of slowing down. Lindgren is a blood and guts player. With no replacement, he should return.
Given the process of arbitration, the Rangers will low-ball him. Figure them to come in around $3.8 million. Lindgren could ask for as much as $5.2 million. The hope is that they can meet in the middle prior to the scheduled hearing.
It could come down to the contract length. Lindgren will probably want at least five years. The Rangers could counter with three. Four seems logical.
Fireworks are on deck for the 4th of July. On a beautiful summer day in the Big Apple, barbecues and celebrations are being planned for Independence Day. Hopefully, the thunderstorms won’t get in the way of tomorrow night’s festivities.
While it’s nice to think about what makes our country great, there’s the delicate nature that the Rangers face with Jacob Trouba. It’s one that was created by both Chris Drury and polarizing NY Post columnist Larry Brooks.
If you’re an interested party due to supporting the team, even if you don’t want Trouba back, the villains are Drury and Brooks. It’s pretty much known that the organization leaks stuff to Brooks. He then does their bidding for them. What a pathetic way to do things.
For his part, Trouba has every right to want to stay. However, he no longer possesses a full no-movement clause. When July 1 hit this past Monday, it became a moderated no-trade clause that is supposed to include his 15-team list. Only Trouba and Drury know the specifics.
Trouba is a man of principles. When he asked to be traded out of Winnipeg to New York, it was due to then fiancée Kelly Tyson’s desire to become a doctor. Now married with their first child, Dr. Tyson-Trouba has a three-year residency at a New York hospital.
Originally, it was supposed to be completed this year, which would’ve coincided with Trouba’s no-movement clause expiring. Instead, her residency got pushed back to next year, complicating matters. The situation explains why Trouba would prefer to stay. He supports his wife and considers her an equal. That shouldn’t be criticized.
When Trouba signed this current seven-year, $56M contract in July of 2019 after having been acquired as a pending restricted free agent from Winnipeg, his five-year no-movement clause was designed to expire in conjunction with his wife Kelly Tyson-Trouba’s completion of her three-year residency at a New York hospital.
But Dr. Tyson-Trouba’s residency was deferred for a year at the start so that the program which she is required to complete will end instead on July 1, 2025. The Troubas also welcomed their first child, a boy named Axel, in mid-January.
There is no guarantee that Jacob Trouba would accept a trade even to a club on his approved list if that means leaving his wife and nine-month-old (as of training camp) behind. It is not as if Dr. Tyson-Trouba can pick up, transfer her credits to another hospital, accompany her husband and still be licensed as a physician.
We are told that has become part of the league-wide conversation, with several teams that otherwise would have been in big-time on Trouba now likely to wait until next year when Dr. Tyson-Trouba’s residency ends with the defenseman having one final season on his contract.
Brooks went on to indicate that the communication between Trouba and Drury had been professional. However, how does that explain the previous column he wrote that mentioned the possibility of the Rangers wanting Trouba’s 15-team no-trade list last weekend so they could possibly move him? It reeks of hypocrisy by a veteran journalist who gets more things wrong these days. Patrick Kane was coming back. Oh, wait.
It feels like the organization tried to railroad Trouba. After having pulled similar tactics to offload Barclay Goodrow by placing him on waivers so the Sharks could claim him to get around his no-trade list, it looks like the Rangers were desperate to get rid of Trouba due to the $8 million cap hit that has two years remaining. While understandable, there’s a better way to do things. Especially with the captain being shocked to find out the way he did.
It isn’t like Trouba was the only player who struggled in the Rangers’ loss to the eventual champion Panthers. It’s all been documented before. Rinse. Repeat. Some of the team’s best players had a tough time. They weren’t as hobbled as the captain. Of course, he made no excuses afterward. If you play hurt, it doesn’t matter. Ryan Lindgren did. He, too, showed wear and tear.
At 30, Trouba isn’t the same player that he was a couple of years ago. If you play that grinding style by hitting and blocking shots, it has an effect over the long haul. Lindgren is four years younger. He’s shown signs of slowing down. That’s why the Rangers should be hesitant not to commit more than four years on his next contract. We’ll see how that goes.
If he remains a Ranger, Trouba’s likely to become a third pair defenseman who still kills penalties. That’s a lot to pay for a declining player. The Oilers could face a similar circumstance with Darnell Nurse, whose cap hit is $9.25 million with still four years remaining. That’s the risk teams take when they hand out these long-term contracts.
There have been some irrational takes on social media from fans who are frustrated with the Rangers’ current situation. Harassing Trouba and his wife are uncalled for. If you want to place a finger at someone, point it at Drury. Once highly thought of by the hockey world as an executive, his reputation is tarnished. If the Rangers fail to win a championship next year, Drury’s head will roll. He’ll find it difficult to get another job as a general manager of a hockey club.
This was an actual suggestion by the well liked Stan Fischler. It’s probably one of the worst ideas.
Hard to see @NYRangers keeping Trouba as captain if he stays. Yes to @Trocheck with the C. or Fox.
It’s disrespectful to take away the captaincy. Trouba is well-respected in the locker room. He’s always laid it on the line for the Blueshirts. Unfortunately, the same fan base that chanted, “Trou” after one of his big hits can turn on a player faster than Benedict Arnold. That’s the world we live in now. Full of experts based on analytics and charts.
The human side isn’t seen. It should be. Considering how things have gone this week, it’s highly likely that Trouba will remain a Ranger next fall. A lot of the haters will see red. Unlike the team, who will move on from this mess.
In the end, it’ll be business as usual. With the Rangers making minor additions. They signed Casey Fitzgerald and Bo Groulx yesterday.
It appears that Casey Fitzgerald is in fact the son of #NJDevils GM Tom Fitzgerald!
The business side means turning their attention to Lindgren. Hard negotiations are ahead. He previously made $3 million and was qualified at $3.65 million. Obviously, that number will increase. It could reach as high as $5 million. If they were to go to arbitration, the Rangers would come in much lower. Usually, the two sides get together and find a middle ground. The sticky point will be the contract length.
Braden Schneider doesn’t have much leverage. He’ll want more than the bridge deal that’ll be offered. Given the Rangers’ cap situation, they’ll probably make Schneider earn it. They’re not in the position to invest long-term on a player who only started to play on the second pair.
At the present, it looks like the roster could look similar to last season. Perhaps an opportunity awaits Brennan Othmann or Brett Berard. Will Cuylle deserves to get a better look. Zac Jones likely will finally get his chance.
Maybe something good can come out of this. A lot of teams went bonkers on players. If a younger player can fill a role that a veteran would’ve taken, that could bode well for both the present and future.
Regardless of who won in free agency, there are no trophies awarded during the summer. That still must be earned. The Rangers should still be a good team. Whether rivals have caught up to them remains to be seen.
It will be his second stint as a Devil. Originally, Tatar played for them for two seasons from 2021-22 to 2022-23. It was in his second year that he had some success.
On a team that reached the playoffs, he recorded 20 goals and 28 assists in 82 games. Forty-four of his 48 points came at even strength, including 19 goals. He wasn’t as successful in the postseason, only tallying a goal over 12 games.
Last summer, Devils team president and general manager Tom Fitzgerald opted not to re-sign him. The cap was different, which factored in. Instead, Tatar signed with the Avalanche. After struggling to establish himself, he was dealt to the Kraken. He fared better by posting eight goals and seven assists in 43 contests.
Now 33, Tatar is looking to bounce back in 2023-24. He’ll see familiar faces when he returns to Newark. Most likely a bottom six forward, he joins recent pickups Paul Cotter and Stefan Noesen. All three are solid additions that should bolster secondary scoring.
With Fitzgerald also remaking the blue line by signing both Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon, the Devils have improved their chances of returning to the playoffs. Jacob Markstrom is the new starting goalie with Jake Allen backing up.
Dawson Mercer is a key restricted free agent. He’s due a raise. The Devils currently have less than five million dollars in cap space. It’ll be interesting to see what they decide to do with Mercer. His entry-level contract expired following the season. He wasn’t as consistent in Year 3 finishing with 20 goals, 13 assists, and a minus-25 rating.
In what amounted to a disappointing season for the team, chalk it up to how things went. With Sheldon Keefe the new coach and a different roster, the Devils expect to be much better.
Where to begin? On a chaotic day full of free agent signings that totaled over $1 billion, the Rangers’ silence was deafening.
Unless you actually believe adding depth pieces, Sam Carrick and Reilly Smith are earth-shattering moves for a team that likes to think they’re Stanley Cup contenders. It went about as badly and sadly as the final three games of the Eastern Conference Final did.
Much like how quiet Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Artemi Panarin were, that certainly applies to Chris Drury on July 1. When asked why Smith for one year over committing longer on a free agent, he said, “I’m not going to comment on other deals that other teams & players made, but this just fit for us now & I think sets us up well in the future to have some flexibility.”
On why one year of Reilly Smith over handing out a longer term deal to one of the top UFAs, Drury said, "I'm not going to comment on other deals that other teams & players made, but this just fit for us now & I think sets us up well in the future to have some flexibility." #NYR
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) July 1, 2024
Whether or not you can take him at his word is another story. The one player Drury added for three years at a cheap $1 million per year is Carrick. He’s a fourth line center who brings some grit and physical play. He finished 2023-24 with the Oilers who lost to the Panthers for the Cup.
If the goal was to spend as little money as possible, mission accomplished. In sending the Penguins a 2027 second round pick along with a conditional 2025 fifth for Smith, the Rangers added $3.75 million on the cap. At least it’s only for a year.
A former member of the Cup champion Golden Knights in 2022-23, Smith is a solid complementary forward who can put up between 15 to 20 goals and 40-plus points. He can kill penalties. The only question is why the Pens were so desperate to get rid of him. He had a down year finishing with 13 goals and 27 assists. He’ll have something to prove on a new team.
If you were one of those fans hoping for Drury to land a big name, you were left hanging. Or by now, probably hungover from the lack of activity. Like a game of dominoes, player after player fell.
Jonathan Marchessault went to the suddenly emerging Predators, who added former Lightning captain Steven Stamkos and Brady Skjei. They also extended Juuse Saros for an affordable $7.74 million through 2033. We’ll see how that impacts Igor Shesterkin, who wants the moon if you read the NY Post.
Jake DeBrusk landed in Vancouver. Tyler Bertuzzi decided to take the money from the Blackhawks, who also brought back Teuvo Teravainen. They improved.
Most teams did except for the Rangers and Hurricanes, with the latter losing both Skjei and Brett Pesce. They also picked up a third round pick from the Lightning, who went to $9 million on Jake Guentzel. He isn’t worth it. But how many players are? There were some crazy deals. They seemed to happen at lightning speed.
Even Jeff Skinner found a new home in Edmonton for one year at $2.5 million. Vladimir Tarasenko is one player who didn’t. He reportedly wants to return to the Panthers after helping them win. Who can blame him. They lost Brandon Montour to the Kraken for big money. Oliver Ekman-Larsson left for Toronto. But they kept Sam Reinhart for $8.63 million AAV over eight years.
The big reason for the Rangers’ inability to sign someone who can help their chances is due to the mishandling of Jacob Trouba. By leaking the info to Larry Brooks over the weekend, it turned into a three-ring circus. The Rangers captain was hurt when he found out he could be traded.
The lack of communication backfired. This is how the organization operates. Barclay Goodrow had to learn that he was waived in a prearranged agreement so the Sharks could pick him up. It was underhanded. He had the Sharks on his 15-team no-trade list. Drury worked around it to get rid of the $3.64 million salary over the remaining three years.
Coming off a great season that included a run to the Final Four, Goodrow and Trouba were treated like second-class citizens. It’s almost as if the Rangers don’t appreciate what they brought. That’s no way to handle two veterans who were leaders for the team.
Now, they’re stuck. What will happen with Trouba? With $8.94 million in cap space remaining, most of it will be used to re-sign restricted free agents Ryan Lindgren and Braden Schneider. Drury was hoping to offload most of Trouba’s remaining contract ($8 million AAV over two years) to free up room to add a scoring right wing. Instead, it’s a guessing game.
You have to wonder if a few of those players who signed elsewhere decided not to come to New York City. The mitigating circumstances haven’t helped. It isn’t good.
There are consequences. Drury’s arrogance got in the way of doing the right thing by Trouba and Goodrow. They are people with families. You wouldn’t know it by how Drury operates.
Once, Brian Leetch learned that he was traded on his birthday to the Maple Leafs. Glen Sather never even approached him about it. Arguably the greatest New York Ranger, Leetch was sent packing in pathetic fashion 20 years earlier. Even the way Henrik Lundqvist was handled at the end wasn’t memorable. At least he was brought back as a studio analyst. He remains the best dressed man in the room with that charm.
Why do these things happen? Some will point out that it’s just business, which is true. The business side of sports isn’t pretty. Sometimes, things end badly. You don’t expect that to happen to two players who’ve bled as Blueshirts.
It’s different. Most agree that the cost is too much for Trouba. Especially if he’s a third pair defenseman at this point of his career. He’s 30 and played on a bum ankle. Somehow, he was called “selfish” for playing hurt. Amazing.
If you were a big name free agent, would you sign with the Rangers when there’s uncertainty? It’s an unstable situation. Until they settle things with Trouba, a dark cloud will hang over Madison Square Garden.
Where to start after yet another head-spinning day by Tom Fitzgerald and the New Jersey Devils? Might as well start with the obvious, the big signing of the day that was rumored for the last couple of weeks seemingly, with the team agreeing to terms with ex-Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce on a 6 year, $33 million deal. Clearly they weren’t going to mess around filling the hole in the top four created after the draft-day trade of John Marino to Utah two days ago. With the Devils having moved on from three of their four defensemen who played on the penalty kill last year (Marino, Brendan Smith and Kevin Bahl), Pesce should also be an upgrade defensively there as well as at even strength.
I’m not even going to waste time analyzing his or the other contracts today, especially since quite honestly there are at least six or seven holy **** contracts that teams have thrown around silly money on already. Even more so than the usual ‘whatever you think a guy’s worth, add about a year and a million per season to it and that’s what he’ll actually get’ free agency tax that we clearly paid on all of our deals. You see teams with cap issues wiggle out of them one way or another, at this point I’m like Lou Lamoriello when then-beat writer Tom Gulutti asked him a salary cap question, when he responded, ‘Don’t worry about my cap, Tom’. Today is just about how much we appear to be fortifying our push back to relevancy next season.
While Pesce was the worst-kept secret in the world, there was a little more ambiguity over Brendan Dillon signing here, even though that was also heavily rumored in the days before ‘official’ free agency began. A word about that, I’m totally fine with there being no real tampering period this year, I would just prefer it was a written rule rather than an unwritten one, it does seem like there was a bit of a gentlemen’s agreement to let a guy talk to other clubs if you weren’t planning to bring him back this year. Of course, the one time I’m literally home for UFA day turns out to be the most boring one from the standpoint of most of these deals having been done beforehand and announced pretty early on in the day.
Anyway, if the Devils needed to replace Marino they also needed to replace Bahl in their top six with a clear upgrade and Dillon provides that, as well as size and snarl – a clear theme of this offseason.
Since his debut in 2012, Brendan Dillon has 2,174 hits, third most amongst defensemen over that stretch.
Like Pesce, the 6’4 225 pound Dillon has a ton of postseason experience and will supplement the PK as well as even-strength defensively. Three years and $4 million per might have been a little higher than I wanted, but again free agent tax. And certainly Fitz has remade the blue line in one busy weekend, not only with these two signings and trading Marino + Bahl, but also with an under-the radar deal last night for Johnathan Kovacevic from the Canadiens for a 2026 4th rounder. Yet another big boy at 6’5 and 225, he’s more of a depth guy but one who got good reviews in Montreal and should fit into the #7 swing role (formerly occupied by Smith, who signed a one-year deal in Dallas earlier) quite nicely.
Earlier in the day there were even rumors the Devils were making a play for Jonathan Marchessault, who while not big would have certainly fit our need for a top six scoring winger. However, they were beaten to the dotted line by Nashville in a bit of a Johnny Gaudreau-esque twist, and the Predators certainly made a big splash of their own today bringing in Marchessault and Steven Stamkos to jump-start a comatose offense that was shut down in the first round of the playoffs by the Canucks’ third-string goalie. So among the reported shopping list of top six forward, bottom six forward, top four defenseman, bottom four defenseman and goalie it seems as if Fitz has ‘only’ been able to procure four out of five…to this point.
Fitzy did manage to improve the forward group to an extent today though, with the surprise return of Stefan Noesen, who initially broke out with a 13-goal, 27 point season on the Devils in our 2017-18 playoff season but then bounced around the league and seemed destined to finish out his days in AHL obscurity. Pretty much out of nowhere, he had a huge AHL season in 2021-22 that re-ignited his career and won him a roster spot on Carolina the past two seasons, where he settled in as a mid-30 point, back six grinder.
If it was just about anyone else I might be complaining about his contract being slightly rich for a back six player ($2.75 million per for the next three seasons) but you can’t help but feel good for Noesen and about his return. Especially after he was a part of getting us out of the dark ages – albeit for a brief, shining moment before we fell back into them the next few seasons. Especially since he did score what turned out to be the winning goal in our lone playoff win for a decade, and blew the roof off the Prudential Center.
Of course the fact he’s over 6′ and 200′ helped facilitate the Lou-like coming home contract for Noesen. And clearly Fitz doesn’t want to have another four or five-year break between playoff appearances, the way we have been the last decade. We’ll still probably need to find a top six forward somewhere – and at this point I do have to use the c word, with limited cap space to do it – if he wants to really but a ribbon and a bow on this offseason but you can’t deny that the Devils overhauled their coaching, defense, goaltending and put a little more snarl into their back six up front.
In short, the team should be improved and ready to get back to relevancy when they start their season with some homecoming showdowns. As if facing Lindy Ruff and the Sabres in Prague wasn’t enough, it seems as if the home opener will be the reverse homecoming with us facing the Leafs in Sheldon Keefe’s darby. It should be hectic, like this last week was but unless Fitz pulls another big move or three out of his rear end, it’s probably time for me to go back into hibernation until camp begins at least.
Following a crazy week that kicked off with the Florida Panthers winning the Stanley Cup over the Edmonton Oilers in a memorable Game 7, and was followed up by a busy NHL Draft that saw several players move, the madness will continue on Monday, July 1st when NHL free agency hits.
With some teams already making moves to sign key players before midnight struck, a few free agents are off the board. For the Lightning, that meant trading away a third round pick to sign Jake Guentzel to an eigjt-year max deal. It’s likely to be a cap hit of $8 million.
Sources say #GoBolts have agreed to terms on a contract with Jake Guentzel after a productive Sunday.
Details have been hard to come by as Tampa has other moving parts, and info might not come out until tomorrow.
He was their top target – leaving captain Steven Stamkos headed to free agency. It looks like the Lightning’s greatest player will leave. The Hurricanes, Predators, and Golden Knights are all interested. It’ll be strange to see Stamkos wearing another jersey. He deserved better from GM Julien BriseBois. Loyal Bolts fans like Morgan know it.
what the fuck was the point of freeing up all that money to not offer the face of your franchise, your captain, your still incredible player, more money. i feel sick https://t.co/5qNYBNOYP1
I was hoping Stamkos would stay. The former 2008 top pick has done it all there. His 555 goals, 1,137 points, and 1,082 games played rank first in franchise history. No Bolt has more even strength goals (336), power-play goals (214), game-winning goals (85), and hat tricks (13).
At 34, he still has something left. It shouldn’t take long for Stamkos to find a new team. It’s gonna be weird. The Lightning are focused on extending Victor Hedman. He’s next in line to become the captain. They dumped Mikhail Sergachev’s $8.5 million salary to Utah HC and moved Tanner Jeannot to the Kings. That allowed them to land Guentzel. Who else will they add?
Right before the deadline, the Panthers re-signed Sam Reinhart to an eight-year max deal. He led them with a career high 57 goals and had 10 more in the playoffs. I guess he prioritized winning. His center is Aleksander Barkov. Another great reason to stay.
Florida will try to re-sign key free agent Brandon Montour. They’ll likely lose Dmitry Kulikov, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Vladimir Tarasenko. Bottom six forwards, Ryan Lomberg and Kevin Stenlund could be kept. The champs will look different when training camp opens in late September.
The Maple Leafs were able to re-sign Max Domi to a four-year contract worth an average of $3.75 million. Tyler Bertuzzi isn’t returning.
Tyler Bertuzzi won’t be returning to the Maple Leafs. His value has out priced Toronto. He will land a deal elsewhere in the 4 year and over $5 mil per territory.
Bertuzzi can help someone. If his ask is close to $6 million over four years, I’d pass. He is a streaky scorer who plays with edge.
Amongst the top forwards available include Jake DeBrusk, Jonathan Marchessault, Stamkos, Bertuzzi, and Elias Lindholm. DeBrusk is a player I’d like the Rangers to target. He’d be a good fit on the first line. Marchessault is a better finisher. But he’ll cost more. I doubt they’ll get him. He’s the definition of a clutch performer.
Patrick Kane decided to stay put in Detroit, agreeing to an incentive laden one-year deal that includes both performance and team bonuses that can total $6.5 million. So much for a reunion in the Big Apple. Kane probably thinks he can get them back to the playoffs. They were one point away. We’ll see what else they do.
Kane contract has bonuses. Per sources: $4M base $1.5M at 10 games $250k at 60 games $500k if they make playoffs $250k for 60 points AND playoffs.
Other free agents include Warren Foegle, Tyler Toffoli, Matt Duchene, Tarasenko, Teuvo Teravainen, Sean Monahan, Jeff Skinner, Anthony Duclair, Chandler Stephenson,Victor Arvidsson, Jonathan Drouin, Adam Henrique, Nick Cousins, Mattias Janmark, Connor Brown, Alex Wennberg, Nikita Zadorov, Matt Roy, Sean Walker, and Erik Gustafsson.
It’s impossible to list everybody. I tried to limit it to players who can play key roles. This doesn’t include available players for trades. We’ll see what happens with Jacob Trouba. If I were him, I’d be livid.
When Jacob Trouba was traded to the New York Rangers, he signed a seven-year contract worth $56 million in the summer of 2019.
That included a full no-movement clause over the first five years. The cap hit was eight million for a player who was 25 at the time. He previously made $5.5 million for the Jets in 2018-19. So, it was a bit of an overpay.
In a contract year, Trouba put together his best season. He had eight goals while setting career bests in assists (42) and points (50) over 82 games for the Jets. That worked in his favor.
It took the Rangers over a month to sign him following the acquisition on June 17, 2019. Having traded for a player the organization wanted, they couldn’t afford to go to arbitration. Then, there wouldn’t have been any guarantees of keeping him. So, they committed over the long-term.
In retrospect, some hockey pundits would say that they signed Trouba for too long. However, he was in his prime. It’s always easier to second guess afterward. We all are guilty of doing it. The contract length is always risky when investing in a player. So, too, is handing out no-movement clauses. It’s that part that always seems to get the Rangers in trouble.
Look no further than Barclay Goodrow. A gritty player and proven winner with the Lightning, he was brought in to provide secondary scoring and valuable playoff experience. When they signed him for six years with a cap hit of $3.64 million, everyone knew they overpaid. But they again gave out a NMC for a role player.
Here’s the thing. Most fans liked the moves for Trouba and Goodrow. They needed those type of players to become more competitive.
In case you forgot, 2019-20 and 2020-21 weren’t successful under David Quinn. They were swept by the Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup qualifier in embarrassing fashion. Then, they missed the playoffs in the abbreviated 56-game season. Quinn was replaced by Gerard Gallant.
The arrival of Goodrow helped improve the roster. A versatile forward who could be plugged anywhere, that’s exactly how Gallant used him. While the upper echelon stars headlined a big 2021-22, Goodrow achieved career highs in goals (13), assists (20), and points (33). He proved his worth by doing a bit of everything.
Chris Drury made upgrades at the trade deadline by adding Andrew Copp, Frank Vatrano, Tyler Motte, and Justin Braun. Those key additions helped improve team depth. Despite that, things looked bleak when the Rangers fell behind 3-1 to the Penguins in the first round.
Facing elimination at home in Game 5, they fell behind 2-0. A series dominated by Sidney Crosby suddenly turned on an awkward Trouba open ice hit that injured the Pens captain. The Rangers rallied to win the game 5-3. Eventually, they came back to take the series on Artemi Panarin’s power-play goal in overtime.
That team went on a run to the Eastern Conference Final. They defeated the Hurricanes in seven games before losing to the Lightning in six. It was a series they led 2-0. But the Bolts’ championship experience proved to be too much.
Following a disappointing first round exit to the Devils, Gallant was fired. His failure to adjust in games contributed to the Rangers blowing a 2-0 lead. It was eerily similar to what happened against the Lightning. A lack of a structured defensive system didn’t help.
After taking their time, they hired Peter Laviolette last year. A much more hands-on coach who emphasizes discipline, he was the right fit. For most of the 2023-24 season, he relied on Trouba and K’Andre Miller as the shutdown pair. He also decided to make Goodrow a fourth line center who played mostly in his own end.
Following a 30-point season in which he was healthy for all 82 games, Trouba showed signs of slowing down. A rugged player who likes to hit and block shots, his skating became an issue this past season. There were instances when he was caught out of position on goals against. He and Miller had been together for a while. Miller also had his issues after a good start. At some point, something had to give.
An undisclosed lower-body injury didn’t help Trouba. He was banged up from the taxing style he played. Eventually, the Rangers placed him on the injured reserve in early March. He missed 13 games before returning on Mar. 30.
Somewhat predictably, nobody knew what the injury was. However, Trouba’s skating suffered. He wasn’t that fast to begin with. Even after coming back, he didn’t look the same. It was painfully obvious to those watching. Nobody clued in Laviolette, who, after a successful stint having Miller and Braden Schneider paired together, went right back to Trouba with Miller.
When they were on for a ridiculous amount of goals against, finally, Laviolette broke it up. He moved Trouba down to the third pair to play with Erik Gustafsson and reunited Miller and Schneider. That’s how they started the postseason.
After sweeping the Capitals, the Rangers led the Hurricanes 3-0. Overtime heroics from Vincent Trocheck and Panarin had them on the verge of a sweep. However, the Hurricanes took the next two games to make things interesting. At that point, Laviolette decided to stick Trouba back with Miller.
In Game 6, they fell behind 2-0 but rallied back thanks to Chris Kreider’s natural hat trick in the third period to win 5-3 and advance. Goodrow added an empty netter for his third goal of the playoffs. After a tough offensive season that saw him score only four goals, he stepped it up when it mattered most. That’s the kind of player he is.
In the Eastern Conference Final, it was Goodrow’s overtime winner in Game 2 that allowed the Rangers to tie the series against the Panthers. They’d blanketed Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Kreider.
In what was a lopsided Game 3, Goodrow had two more goals. After the Panthers rallied with two goals in the third period, the Rangers took it to overtime. Alex Wennberg tipped in a Ryan Lindgren shot to give them a 5-4 overtime win. As it turned out, that was the last game the Rangers won.
Game 5 proved to be a crusher. Kreider’s shorthanded goal was answered by Gustav Forsling. Anton Lundell put the Panthers ahead in a closely fought third period. After Sam Bennett’s empty netter, Alexis Lafreniere scored with 50 seconds remaining. But the Panthers slammed the door shut to hold on for a 3-2 win.
Late in the first period of Game 6, Trouba and Gustafsson each made costly mistakes that led to Bennett scoring the first goal. Gustafsson threw away the puck in the neutral zone right to Evan Rodrigues, who regained entry. Trouba went for the hit, which allowed Rodrigues to slide the puck over to Bennett for a shot that beat Igor Shesterkin with 50 seconds left.
Of course, Trouba took most of the blame from irate fans. He’d been on for a large number of goals during the playoffs. The fans’ frustration was understandable. However, Gustafsson’s folly is what caused the problem. As good a puck possession player as he is, he has a tendency to cough up pucks when pressured. That’s exactly what happened on that play. Trouba was culpable for not staying home. It was both of their responsibility.
When it comes down to it, all fans see is the salary Trouba makes. After the Rangers were eliminated by the Panthers, who held Panarin to a single goal with less than two minutes left in Game 6, Trouba told reporters that he suffered a broken ankle in March. It explained why he looked so hobbled. He never made any excuses, insisting that he’d recovered.
As the captain of the team, Trouba took full responsibility for his uneven play. Almost a month later, he’s been subject to trade rumors. The Rangers want him to submit his 15-team no-trade list so they can try to get out of the remainder of his contract. Even if they pick up 20 percent, they’ll create enough room to sign a scoring forward to help the top line while re-signing Ryan Lindgren and Braden Schneider to new contracts.
Hockey insider Elliotte Friedman said that they were having discussions with the Red Wings about Trouba. However, it wasn’t as close as he indicated on Saturday at the NHL Draft. That left many fans seeing red. Some crossed the line. They ripped into Trouba even going as far as to send personal attacks on social media. It was regrettable.
With Friedman later adding to his post Draft Thoughts column that Trouba was shocked to learn that he might be traded, it really put some perspective on a tough situation. After how Goodrow was unceremoniously dumped on waivers with an agreement reached for the Sharks to take him, even though they were on his no-trade list, such underhanded tactics don’t reflect well on the Rangers organization.
Things I did not leave Vegas with a great read on: Where things stand with Jonathan Marchessault and Vegas or Jacob Trouba and the Rangers. The Marchessault negotiation’s been a real grind. Trouba/Rangers could be a battle as he switches from a no-move to a partial no-trade. We saw what happened with Barclay Goodrow, and Trouba’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, is no shrinking violet. One of the challenges is that Trouba was shocked by the possibility he could be traded and is still coming to grips with it.
However, Drury is playing within the rules. Goodrow was never informed by the team that they planned to waive him. He was stunned. With Trouba being asked earlier to submit his 15-team no-trade list, he was equally as shocked. Friedman indicated that Trouba was still coming to grips with the possibility that he could be a goner.
If we’re being fair here, it’s true that Trouba’s play has declined. However, he’s always laid it all on the line. His physical style was one the Rangers lacked. That’s why they acquired him five years ago. They needed a second pair defensive defenseman who played with tenacity.
With Adam Fox becoming a star on the top pair, Trouba filled a void. For a while, he and Miller were a good tandem. They were trusted by three different coaches. Apparently, fans know more than hockey people. When Trouba’s play slipped and Miller struggled during the winter, it was obvious that a change had to be made. I recommended Gustafsson with Trouba while having Schneider team with Miller a while back. It finally came to fruition.
One thing Trouba has always done is sacrifice for the team. He led all Rangers’ defensemen in hits (191) and blocked shots (183) in 2023-24. That was even with missing 13 games.
So many Rangers fans bashing Jacob Trouba and it’s utterly ridiculous. Is it time to move on? Yes. And it’s going to be bother me that we didn’t get the chance to hear ‘Captain Jacob Trouba, come get the Stanley Cup.’ He deserved it. He bled – and as of today bleeds New York…
At times, a few of those hits were questionable. He nearly decapitated Evan Rodrigues with an elbow that resulted in a minor penalty. It caused a heated debate from analysts on whether it deserved to be a major. He was suspended two games for elbowing Pavel Dorofeyev. He also was fined $5,000 for high-sticking Trent Frederic. An action he apologized for. There also was the flying missed hit on Martin Necas that saw Trouba with his elbow extended crashing into the boards.
Sometimes, he takes big risks. That’s the kind of player he is. If you judged him like the angry mob in Pittsburgh did, with their ridiculous conspiracy theories on the incidental collision with Crosby over two years ago, then you don’t understand the game. It’s played at a very fast pace. There will always be controversial open ice hits that cause injury due to the frenetic pace. It’s a much faster game now.
Whatever happens with Trouba, he’ll have to do a better job picking his spots in the future. Whether it’s as a Ranger or with another team, he’ll have to make an adjustment. If he doesn’t, he’ll gain a reputation as a dirty player.
In regards to those impatient fans who want to run him out of town by tomorrow, they don’t get it. Anytime a player hears their name come up in rumors, it isn’t easy. Obviously, Trouba likes it here. He wanted to come to New York City to play for the Rangers. That deserves more respect. It isn’t fun for an athlete to uproot a family. Put yourself in his shoes.
Not every free agent wants the spotlight. Panarin wanted it. He’s performed above and beyond the $11.64 million cap hit the Rangers are charged. After a disappointing third round, Panarin came under fire once more. He handled the criticism with class, admitting that he wished he had more goals on his stick.
The Panthers were the best defensive team all season long. They proved it by stifling Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to win the Stanley Cup in a memorable Game 7. Sometimes, you have to tip your hat to the opponent.
When the Rangers lose, there are always going to be players who are blamed. Zibanejad didn’t score a single goal in the Eastern Conference Final. He was limited to two assists while Kreider had a goal and assist. Trouba still became the easy target.
Despite the offense going quietly, along with the power play, it was Trouba who got most of the blame. That’s because when you don’t score enough, every goal becomes magnified. That’s exactly what happened against the Panthers. Unfortunately, Trouba wasn’t the only Rangers defenseman who struggled with Florida. Almost every player did.
Some fans cite analytics as the only reason for a player’s success or failure. Goodrow scored six goals in the playoffs, but these people turned it against him due to his shooting percentage. Would they have preferred he not score in overtime to even the series in the third round? What about the shorthanded goal he had in Game 3? They don’t even make overtime without his two goals and Lafreniere’s pair.
Sometimes, the analytics crowd can come off ignorant. Goodrow was one of the best Rangers skaters against the eventual champion Panthers. Laviolette never considered moving him up to the third line, which struggled to produce. Goodrow even would’ve been a better option than Jack Roslovic on the first line due to how he plays. Laviolette tried different combinations that didn’t work.
When the Sharks claimed Goodrow, picking up his full salary for the remaining three years, it was celebrated as if the Rangers won the Cup. Did I miss something? Goodrow had a better postseason than regular season. If it’s true that he made too much for what he did in large part because his ice time was minimized, at the very least, it can still be acknowledged that he was a positive during the team’s second run in three years to the Final 4.
Trouba doesn’t have to cooperate tomorrow. He’s under no obligation to. It’s up to the Rangers to work with him on agreeing to be traded to a team that isn’t on his 15-team list. How long will that take remains to be seen. At this point, if you’re Trouba, do you want to return knowing that they might not want you? It’s gotta be disappointing.
If he does get moved, who replaces him? It’s not an easy question to answer. The Rangers’ defense will be weakened from a physical standpoint. Schneider looks ready to play a bigger role.
If that’s the case and Lindgren re-ups, that leaves the third pair. Zac Jones deserves to be in the top six. He probably should’ve replaced Gustafsson against Florida. If it’s a third pair physical type that they need, there should be cheaper alternatives available. They will need a rugged defenseman to replace Trouba. Maybe that’s Nikita Zadorov. He certainly plays with the same intensity.
For the time being, Trouba is still a Ranger. Whatever happens shouldn’t lead to fans acting like entitled brats. There should be more respect shown.
On a big NHL Draft weekend for James Dolan, the Rangers selected four players at Sphere in Las Vegas. Dolan’s creation for the first marquee sporting event at the new venue was personally thanked by league commissioner Gary Bettman during last night’s festivities.
The consensus top pick Macklin Celebrini went first to the Sharks. In a fitting touch, they had Joe Thornton announce the pick to some boisterous Sharks fans who made their presence known on Friday night. General manager Mike Grier also congratulated Glen Sather on an outstanding career. He finally retired earlier this week from hockey.
Before I get into what the Rangers did, I wanted to note my favorite part of the first round.
That would be when the Ducks stunned draft pundits by taking Beckett Sennecke with the third pick. His shocked reaction said it all. It was a great moment. A fast riser, he leapfrogged higher projected players, including Ivan Demidov, who the Canadiens grabbed at number 5, Sennecke had a great second half for the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) to move up.
If Sennecke’s reaction was the best moment, the Canadiens having Celine Dion announce the Demidov selection was a close runner-up. It was a nice touch.
Despite some rumblings, the Devils stayed put at number 10 to grab big Russian defenseman Anton Silayev. They would make bigger headlines on Saturday by moving three roster players, highlighted by John Marino going to Utah HC.
The Islanders might’ve gotten a steal when top American goal scorer Cole Eiserman fell into their lap at number 20. He sounds like a very good offensive player with a lethal shot. The knock on him is defensive awareness. For the Islanders’ sake, they’ll hope it’s not a repeat of Oliver Wahlstrom.
On Day 1, teams moved up to grab players or down to get more draft capital. Don’t tell that to the Caps, who bought Cap Friendly. They made a couple of moves by adding Andrew Mangiapane and Logan Thompson over the weekend. They also traded gritty forward Beck Malenstyn to the Sabres for a second round pick. His tenacity should help in Buffalo.
While the activity was fast and curious on Day 2, with Mikhail Sergachev the biggest name to relocate by going from Tampa to Utah, the Rangers were reportedly trying to move Jacob Trouba. Despite Elliotte Friedman’s report, the Rangers and Red Wings haven’t gotten anything done yet. It’ll probably have to wait until Monday when Trouba’s 15-team no-trade list is submitted on July 1.
Instead of being able to possibly move Trouba or Kaapo Kakko, Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury turned his attention to the draft. Despite all the hoopla surrounding the 30th pick possibly being dangled as part of a trade, they held onto it.
While other teams had special guests introduce their new picks, including the Ducks with Scott Niedermayer and Rick Nash revealing the Blue Jackets’ selection, the Rangers made no fuss over it. They announced defenseman E.J. Emery as their 30th pick near the conclusion of the first round.
A defensive defenseman who prides himself on being a shutdown player, Emery is compared to current Blueshirt K’Andre Miller. When asked by NY Post Rangers beat writer Mollie Walker, who he likes to model his game after, he responded with Miller to the usual giggles from Walker. Emery will attend North Dakota in the fall.
As much as I rolled my eyes due to some of the things Miller doesn’t bring, he’s a good player with character. If Emery has the skating and instincts, which it sounds like, let’s hope he also brings some edge. It’ll probably take a while before we see him in Manhattan. North Dakota is a very good place for him to begin his development.
For a while, things were relatively quiet this afternoon. With the Rangers having no second or third round picks, they waited until Round 4 to make some noise by trading up to number 119. After sending pick 127 and a 2026 seventh round pick over to the Predators, they grabbed center Raoul Boilard at number 119.
Described as a three zone player, Boilard believes he’s a good playmaker with offensive skills. He plays for Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). In 2023-24, he tallied 22 goals and 40 assists in 68 games. He added four goals and four helpers in the playoffs.
In Round 5, the Blueshirts selected big forward Nathan Aspinall with pick 159. On NHL Network, it was interesting to hear the Canadian analysts talk about him. They said he moves well for his size. Of course, it was fitting that they’d take Aspinall on Matt Rempe’s 22nd birthday. Oh, the irony.
Aspinall is listed at six-foot six, 185 pounds. He fared well, putting up 18 goals and 16 assists over 65 games for the Flint Firebirds in the OHL. He definitely sounds like another combination forward who brings physicality. That makes him an intriguing player to watch.
With their final pick in the sixth round, they took forward Rico Gredig 191st overall. He played for Switzerland in the 2024 World Junior Championships, picking up an assist in five games.
Gredig plays for HC Davos in the Swiss League. In 28 contests, he had two goals and two assists. On the Elite Prospects site, it says that his contract runs through 2025-26. He turned 19 in February. There’s enough time to see if he pans out.
As for the status of Trouba, that remains to be seen. If his hometown team really wants him, then I guess something will happen soon. July 1 is approaching. We’ll see if anything materializes.
It’s obvious that the Rangers want to free up extra space to bring in an impact scoring forward to help out Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. I highly doubt it’s Jake Guentzel. Especially with all the rumors attached to the Lightning pursuing him.
What about Steven Stamkos? He’s a proven star who’s won two Cups with the Lightning. Yes. He’s 34, but he proved he still can finish by scoring 41 goals. Affectionately known as Stammer by Tampa fans, he’s been the face of the franchise since he entered the league. A leader who is money on the power play, what do the Rangers have to lose?
I want to add that Stamkos isn’t a great 5-on-5 player. But imagine if he played on the top line. It would be a good fit. Especially if his asking price is within range. They wouldn’t have to give up anything, either.
I’ve been gung-ho on Jake DeBrusk. I think he would be ideal. We’ll see what happens. Get ready for some fireworks.
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